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Ernst: Leave education to those who understand it

Published: Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 2:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 2:32 p.m.

'We're from the government, and we're here to help."

Those words strike fear in just about any situation but they sound particularly ominous when the subject of the government's help is Florida's university system, and the ones doing the helping are Gov. Rick Scott and the state Legislature, backed by Big Business.

Their assistance, to take form during the spring legislative session, will be a push to replace subjects such as music, psychology and French literature with the study of science, technology, engineering and math.

As Scott puts it, "If I'm going to take money from a citizen to put into education then I'm going to take that money to create jobs. So, I want that money to go to degrees where people can get jobs in this state."

The temptation to turn the University of Florida into a giant trade school may be irresistible for politicians who count on business contributions to keep their own jobs. But that doesn't make it right.

And when those politicians talk of purging "unproductive professors," it gets downright scary.

There's a certain anti-intellectual tone to the sound bites we've heard so far, especially the ones so dismissive of subjects such as anthropology and psychology, as if they hold no value in today's world.

The reasoning is ridiculous. Take psychology. What could be more relevant and useful in just about any application than an understanding of how the human mind works? It's the basis of all commerce, all behavior, everything we do, everything we are.

Anyone who doesn't understand that should certainly not be messing around with the curriculum for higher education.

But honestly, that mindset has already poisoned K-12 public education. The system asks kids today to declare majors while they're in grade school. It channels their education toward specific careers. It marginalizes the arts, music and the humanities for supposed "real-life" courses in math, science and stylized writing. Then it measures success through rigid, standardized testing with funding tied to results.

That's what happens when bureaucrats and politicians call the shots.

The state Legislature doesn't want teachers. It wants facilitators. It doesn't want students with well-rounded educations. It wants well-trained employees for whatever companies happen to be in business in Florida that year.

Big difference. And now Tallahassee has shifted its sights on education reform to state universities. Apparently, the powers that be have decided we don't need no stinkin' Sorbonne in Florida, just some solid vocational schools that don't cost too much because, by the way, we're going to spend less on higher education this year than last (and less on K-12 education, too.)

One could argue that education should be headed in a completely opposite direction, emphasizing creativity over practicality. Instead of molding students into ideal employees for existing companies, K-12 public education and the university system could try to foster graduates whose innovations would generate fields and businesses we've never even imagined today.

The state university system is far from perfect. But when it comes to helping education, it still beats the state Legislature, which should stick to issues it can grasp, such as dwarf-tossing.

Leave education to those who understand it. Give the state universities the money they need. Then stay out of the way.

<p>'We're from the government, and we're here to help."</p><p>Those words strike fear in just about any situation but they sound particularly ominous when the subject of the government's help is Florida's university system, and the ones doing the helping are Gov. Rick Scott and the state Legislature, backed by Big Business.</p><p>Their assistance, to take form during the spring legislative session, will be a push to replace subjects such as music, psychology and French literature with the study of science, technology, engineering and math.</p><p>As Scott puts it, "If I'm going to take money from a citizen to put into education then I'm going to take that money to create jobs. So, I want that money to go to degrees where people can get jobs in this state."</p><p>The temptation to turn the University of Florida into a giant trade school may be irresistible for politicians who count on business contributions to keep their own jobs. But that doesn't make it right.</p><p>And when those politicians talk of purging "unproductive professors," it gets downright scary.</p><p>There's a certain anti-intellectual tone to the sound bites we've heard so far, especially the ones so dismissive of subjects such as anthropology and psychology, as if they hold no value in today's world.</p><p>The reasoning is ridiculous. Take psychology. What could be more relevant and useful in just about any application than an understanding of how the human mind works? It's the basis of all commerce, all behavior, everything we do, everything we are.</p><p>Anyone who doesn't understand that should certainly not be messing around with the curriculum for higher education.</p><p>But honestly, that mindset has already poisoned K-12 public education. The system asks kids today to declare majors while they're in grade school. It channels their education toward specific careers. It marginalizes the arts, music and the humanities for supposed "real-life" courses in math, science and stylized writing. Then it measures success through rigid, standardized testing with funding tied to results.</p><p>That's what happens when bureaucrats and politicians call the shots.</p><p>The state Legislature doesn't want teachers. It wants facilitators. It doesn't want students with well-rounded educations. It wants well-trained employees for whatever companies happen to be in business in Florida that year.</p><p>Big difference. And now Tallahassee has shifted its sights on education reform to state universities. Apparently, the powers that be have decided we don't need no stinkin' Sorbonne in Florida, just some solid vocational schools that don't cost too much because, by the way, we're going to spend less on higher education this year than last (and less on K-12 education, too.)</p><p>One could argue that education should be headed in a completely opposite direction, emphasizing creativity over practicality. Instead of molding students into ideal employees for existing companies, K-12 public education and the university system could try to foster graduates whose innovations would generate fields and businesses we've never even imagined today. </p><p>The state university system is far from perfect. But when it comes to helping education, it still beats the state Legislature, which should stick to issues it can grasp, such as dwarf-tossing.</p><p>Leave education to those who understand it. Give the state universities the money they need. Then stay out of the way.</p><p><i>Eric Ernst's column runs Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Contact him at eric.ernst@heraldtribune.com or (941) 486-3073.</i></p>